Recording apparatus and record medium

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a recording apparatus and a record medium for recording a data read time, a seek time, a successive reproduction time, a successive record length, and a correlation among data pieces. A recording apparatus of the present invention is a recoding apparatus for recording data to a rewritable record medium, comprising an encoding means for encoding the data corresponding to a predetermined compressing and encoding system, a converting means for converting a data structure of encoded data that is output from the encoding means into a file structure that a computer software program that synchronously reproduces a moving picture and so forth can handle without need to use a special hardware device, and a recording means for recording data having the file structure to the record medium, wherein the file structure has a first data unit, a second data unit, and a data portion, the second data unit being a set of a plurality of first data units, the data portion describing management information, wherein the plurality of second data units is correlated with a successive record length of the record medium, and wherein the data portion contains a time length and a data length of the second data unit recorded in the successive record length.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a recording apparatus that records dataon a record medium, in particular, to a recording apparatus that recordsinformation with respect to a data read time necessary for reading datafrom a record medium, a drive seek time, a successive reproduction time,and a successive record length. In addition, the present inventionrelates to a recording apparatus that records the relation among aplurality of pieces of data recorded on a record medium. Moreover, thepresent invention relates to a record medium on which such informationhas been recorded.

BACKGROUND ART

Since a moving picture is treated as a set of still pictures that havebeen reproduced in a time series, a moving picture recording andreproducing apparatus that records and reproduces a moving pictureshould record and reproduce a sequence of still picture data in a timeseries. To do that, a file for managing chronological relation of stillpicture data is required.

Such a moving picture recording and reproducing apparatus records dataon a randomly accessible record medium such as an optical disc in such amanner that data is dispersedly recorded as blocks having apredetermined amount. In addition, the apparatus reproduces data from arecord medium in such a manner that the apparatus determines theposition of data to be reproduced from the record medium correspondingto such a management file, moves a reading portion such as an opticalpickup to the determined position, reads the data as a block having apredetermined amount, and reproduces the data corresponding to themanagement file.

On the other hand, as software programs that handle a sequence of datathat varies in a time series (such data is referred to as a movie), forexample, QuickTime (hereinafter abbreviated as “QT”) and Video forWindows are known.

QT is a software program that manages various types of data along thetime base and that has an OS extension function for synchronouslyreproducing a moving picture, a sound, a text, and so forth without needto use a special hardware device. With QT, an application program canhandle multimedia data without consideration of data type, data format,compression format, and hardware structure. In addition, QT has astructure that can be easily extended. Thus, QT has been widely used. QThas been disclosed in for example “Inside Macintosh: QuickTime (JapaneseEdition)”, Addison Wesley. Next, QT will be described in brief.

A basic data unit of a QT movie resource is called an atom. Each atomcontains a size and type information along with its data. In QT, theminimum unit of data is treated as a sample. As a set of samples, achunk is defined.

FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the structure of aQuickTime movie file.

FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the structure of avideo media information atom. FIG. 27 is a detailed schematic diagramshowing a video media information atom in the case that tracks are forvideo information.

In FIGS. 26 and 27, a QuickTime movie file is mainly composed of twoportions that are a movie atom 501 and a media data atom 502. The movieatom 501 is a portion that stores information necessary for reproducinga file and information necessary for referencing real data. The mediadata atom 502 is a portion that stores real data such as video data andaudio data.

The movie atom 501 contains a size, a type “moov”, a movie header atom511, a movie clipping atom 512, a user definition data atom 513, and atleast one track atom 514.

The movie header atom 511 has a type “mvhd” and contains informationwith respect to the entire movie such as a time scale and a length.

The movie clipping atom 512 has a type “clip” and contains a clippingarea atom 521. The movie clipping atom 512 designates a clipping areafor a movie and a track. The clipping area atom 521 has a type “crgn”.

The user definition data atom 513 has a type “udat” and contains a movieuser data atom 522. The movie user data atom 522 can store data.

The track atom 514 is provided for each track of a movie. The track atom514 contains a size, a type “trak”, a track header atom 531, a trackclipping atom 532, a track matte atom 533, an edit atom 534, and a mediaatom 535. The track atom 514 describes information with respect toindividual pieces of data of the media data atom 502 in the atoms 531 to535. FIG. 26 shows only a track atom 514-1 of a video movie (omittingother track atoms).

The track header atom 531 has a type “tkhd” and describes timeinformation, space information, audio volume information, and so forthand defines the characteristic of tracks of a movie.

The track clipping atom 532 has a type “clip” and contains a clippingarea atom 541. The track clipping atom 532 operates in the same manneras the movie clipping atom 512.

The track matte atom 533 has a type “matt” and contains a compressionmatt atom 542. The track matte atom 533 designates a matt of tracks. Thecompression matt atom 542 has a type “kmat” and designates an imagedescription structure.

The edit atom 534 has a type “edts” and contains an edit list atom 543.The edit atom 534 causes the edit list atom 543 to define a mediaportion that composes one track of a movie. The edit list atom 543 has atype “elst”. An edit list table composed of a track length, a mediatime, and a media speed causes QT to map a track time to a media timeand finally to media data.

The media atom 535 describes data of a movie track. The media atom 535also describes information that defines a component that interpretsmedia data. The media atom 535 also defines data information of themedia. The media atom 535 has a size and a type “mdia” and contains amedia header atom 544, a media information atom (video media informationatom 545 in FIGS. 26 and 27), and a media handler reference atom 546.

The media header atom 544 has a type “mdhd” and contains a time valuethat represents a time scale of media and a time value that represents alength of media. The media header atom 544 defines the characteristic ofmedia.

The media handler reference atom 546 describes information with respectto entire media and defines the characteristic of media as a storagelocation corresponding to a movie track. The media handler referenceatom 546 has a type “mhlr” and designates a component that interpretsdata stored in media. The component is called by a media handler.

The media information atom 545 stores information intrinsic to a handlerfor media data that composes a track. The media handler maps a mediatime to media data using the information. The media information atom 545has a type “minf” and contains a data handler reference atom 561, amedia information header atom, a data information atom 563, and a sampletable atom 564.

The media information header atom (a video media information header atom562 in FIG. 27) describes information with respect to media. The datahandler reference atom 561 has a type “hdlr” and describes informationwith respect to handling of media data. The data handler reference atom561 contains information that designates a data handler component thatprovides an access means for media data.

The data information atom 563 has a type “dinf” and contains a datareference atom 571. The data reference atom 571 describes informationwith respect to data.

The sample table atom 564 has a type “stbl” and contains informationnecessary for converting a media time into a sample number thatrepresents a sample position. The sample table atom 564 is composed of asample size atom 572, a time-to-sample atom 573, a sync sample atom 574,a sample description atom 575, a sample-to-chunk atom 576, and a chunkoffset atom 577.

The sample size atom 572 has a type “stsz” and describes the size of asample. The time-to-sample atom 573 has a type “stts” and describes therelation between samples and time base (how many minutes of data havebeen recorded ?). The sync sample atom 574 describes information withrespect to synchronization and designates a key frame of medium. A keyframe is a self included frame that does not depend on the precedingframe. The sync sample atom 574 has a type “stss”. The sampledescription atom 575 has a type “stsd” and stores information necessaryfor decoding a sample of medium. Media can have at least one sampledescription atom corresponding to a compression type used in media. Thesample-to-chunk atom 576 references a table contained in the sampledescription atom 575 and identifies a sample description correspondingto each sample of medium. The sample-to-chunk atom 576 has a type “stsc”and describes the relation between a sample and a chunk. Thesample-to-chunk atom 576 identifies the position of a sample of mediacorresponding to the first chunk, the number of samples per chunk andinformation of a sample description ID. The chunk offset atom 577 has atype “stco” and describes the start bit position of a chunk of moviedata and defines the position of each chunk of a data stream.

In FIG. 26, the media data atom 502 stores audio data encodedcorresponding to a predetermined compressing and encoding system andvideo data that has been encoded corresponding to a predeterminedcompressing and encoding system in the unit of a chunk composed of apredetermined number of samples. It is not always necessary to compressand encode data. Alternatively, linear data can be stored. For example,when text, MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface), or the like ishandled, the media data atom 502 contains real data of text, MIDI, orthe like. Correspondingly, the movie atom 501 contains a text track, aMIDI track, or the like.

Each track of the movie atom 501 is correlated with data stored in themedia data atom 502.

In such a hierarchical structure, when data stored in the media dataatom 502 is reproduced, QT successively traces the hierarchicalstructure from the movie atom 501 in the highest hierarchical level,maps a sample table to memory corresponding to the atoms 572 to 578 inthe lowest hierarchical level in the sample table atom 564, andidentifies the relation among individual data pieces.

In addition, QT has a chapter function for displaying text data at apredetermined time of a movie as a function that represents the relationamong data pieces.

However, when the data structure of a management file is hierarchicaland information with respect to each data piece is dispersed in lowerlayers as with QT, a moving picture recording and reproducing apparatusshould trace the hierarchy to lower levels and collect dispersedinformation therefrom.

In addition, since it is assumed that a sequence of time series data isrecorded as blocks each having a predetermined amount, when the size ofeach block is changed, the corresponding operation is required.

When a sequence of time series data is edited, a data read time, a seektime, and a reproduction time for read data are required so that thedata can be successively reproduced.

Although a chapter function that represents the relation among datapieces is provided, a predetermined process for correlating apredetermined time of a movie with a chapter is performed. Thus, therelation among data pieces can be flexibly represented. Consequently,when there are audio data A and audio data B that are chronologicallycorrelated with video data X, it is impossible to correlate the videodata X with the audio data A or the audio data B so as to reproducethem.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatusand a record medium that satisfy the forgoing requirements.

A first aspect of the present invention is a recoding apparatus forrecording data to a rewritable record medium, comprising an encodingmeans for encoding the data corresponding to a predetermined compressingand encoding system, a converting means for converting a data structureof encoded data that is output from the encoding means into a filestructure that a computer software program that synchronously reproducesa moving picture and so forth can handle without need to use a specialhardware device, and a recording means for recording data having thefile structure to the record medium, wherein the file structure has afirst data unit, a second data unit, and a data portion, the second dataunit being a set of a plurality of first data units, the data portiondescribing management information, wherein the plurality of second dataunits is correlated with a successive record length of the recordmedium, and wherein the data portion contains a time length and a datalength of the second data unit recorded in the successive record length.

A second aspect of the present invention is a recording apparatus forrecording data to a rewritable record medium, comprising an encodingmeans for encoding the data corresponding to a predetermined compressingand encoding system, a converting means for converting a data structureof encoded data that is output from the encoding means into a filestructure that a computer software program that synchronously reproducesa moving picture and so forth can handle without need to use a specialhardware device, and a recording means for recording data having thefile structure to the record medium, wherein the file structure has afirst data unit, a second data unit, and a data portion, the second dataunit being a set of a plurality of first data units, the data portiondescribing management information, wherein the plurality of second dataunits is correlated with a successive record length of the recordmedium, and wherein the data portion contains information representing adata type of the first data unit, information representing the recordsequence of the plurality of first data units, information representingthe number of successive first data units for each data type,information representing the number of times of which successive firstdata units are repeated for each data type, and information identifyingthe beginning first data unit corresponding to the second data unitrecorded in the successive record length.

According to the first aspect or the second aspect, the data length isat least one of the maximum value, the minimum value, and the averagevalue of the plurality of second data units recorded on the recordmedium.

In addition, according to the first aspect or the second aspect, thefile structure has a hierarchy, the data portion being placed in anyhierarchical level other than the lowest hierarchical level,alternatively, the data portion being placed in the highest hierarchicallevel.

According to the first aspect or the second aspect, the data portionfurther contains a read time necessary for reading the data from therecord medium. In particular, the read time is a seek time and aplayback rate.

According to the first aspect or the second aspect, a part of theplurality of second data units is pre-allocated as a reserved area fordata that is recorded after the plurality of second data units isrecorded on the record medium corresponding to the successive recordlength. In addition, the data portion contains information representingthe reserved area.

A third aspect of the present invention is a recording apparatus,comprising a means for generating a management file for managing aplurality of pieces of data so that they can be reproduced in a timeseries, and a means for recording the plurality of pieces of data andthe management file on a rewritable record medium, wherein the pluralityof pieces of data is managed as a collection of a first data unit and asecond data unit, the second data unit being a set of a plurality offirst data units, wherein the plurality of second data units iscorrelated with a successive record length of the record medium, andwherein the management file contains a time length and a data length ofthe second data unit recorded in the successive record length and a readtime necessary for reading the data from the record medium.

A fourth aspect of the present invention is a computer readable recordmedium on which a plurality of pieces of data is recorded as a firstdata unit, a second data unit, and a data portion, the second data unitbeing a set of a plurality of first data units, the data portiondescribing management information for managing the plurality of piecesof data, wherein the plurality of second data units is correlativelyrecorded in a successive record length of the record medium, and whereinthe data portion contains a time length and a data length of the seconddata unit recorded in the successive record length.

A fifth aspect of the present invention is a computer readable recordmedium on which a plurality of pieces of data is recorded as a firstdata unit, a second data unit, and a data portion, the second data unitbeing a set of a plurality of first data units, the data portiondescribing management information for managing the plurality of piecesof data, wherein the plurality of second data units is correlativelyrecorded to a successive record length of the record medium, and whereinthe data portion contains information representing a data type of thefirst data unit, information representing the record sequence of theplurality of first data units, information representing the number ofsuccessive first data units for each data type, information representingthe number of times of which successive first data units are repeatedfor each data type, and information identifying the beginning first dataunit corresponding to the second data unit recorded in the successiverecord length.

A sixth aspect of the present invention is a computer readable recordmedium on which a plurality of pieces of data and a management file arerecorded, the management file being used to manage the plurality ofpieces of data in a time series, wherein the plurality of pieces of datais recorded as a first data unit and a second data unit, the second dataunit being a set of a plurality of first data units, the plurality ofsecond data units being correlatively recorded in a successive recordlength of the record medium, and wherein the management file contains atime length and a data length of the second data unit recorded in thesuccessive record length and a read time necessary for reading the datafrom the record medium.

In such recording apparatus and record medium, since information fordata recorded in a successive record length is collectively recorded,the recoding apparatus can easily know the relation among data pieces.Particularly, in a hierarchical file structure, when such information isdescribed in a higher hierarchical level, the apparatus can quickly knowthe relation among data pieces.

In addition, various types of information representing a data type ofthe first data unit, information representing the record sequence of theplurality of first data units, information representing the number ofsuccessive first data units for each data type, information representingthe number of times of which successive first data units are repeatedfor each data type, and information identifying the beginning first dataunit are recorded corresponding to the second data unit recorded in thesuccessive record length. Thus, even if data size is changed, data canbe edited so that the edited data can be successively reproduced.

A seventh aspect of the present invention is a recoding apparatus forrecording data to a rewritable record medium, comprising an encodingmeans for encoding the data corresponding to a predetermined compressingand encoding system, a converting means for converting a data structureof encoded data that is output from the encoding means into a filestructure that a computer software program that synchronously reproducesa moving picture and so forth can handle without need to use a specialhardware device, and a recording means for recording data having thefile structure to the record medium, wherein the file structure has afirst data unit, a second data unit, and a data portion, the second dataunit being a set of a plurality of first data units, the data portiondescribing management information, wherein the plurality of second dataunits is correlated with a successive record length of the recordmedium, and wherein the data portion contains first hierarchicalinformation and second hierarchical information, the second data unitrecorded in the successive record length being divided into a pluralityof groups in a repeated pattern corresponding to the type of the firstdata unit, the first hierarchical information describing the sequence ofthe plurality of first data units in one group, the second hierarchyinformation describing the sequence of the plurality of groups.

In the recording apparatus according to the seventh aspect of thepresent invention, the first hierarchical information containsinformation representing to which of the plurality of groups the firstdata unit belongs, information representing the data type of the firstdata unit, information representing the record sequence of the pluralityof first data units, information representing the number of successivefirst data units for each data type, information representing the numberof times of which the successive first data units are repeated for eachdata type, and information identifying the beginning first data unit,and wherein the second hierarchical information contains informationrepresenting the types of the groups, information representing which ofthe plurality of groups is synchronized with the computer softwareprogram, information representing the record sequence of the pluralityof groups, and information representing the number of successive groups.

In the recording apparatus according to the seventh aspect of thepresent invention, the data portion may further contain the data type ofthe first data unit and a data attribute of the first data unit.

An eighth aspect of the present invention is a computer readable recordmedium on which a plurality of pieces of data is recorded as a firstdata unit, a second data unit, and a data portion, the second data unitbeing a set of a plurality of first data units, the data portiondescribing management information for managing the plurality of piecesof data, wherein the plurality of second data units is correlativelyrecorded to a successive record length of the record medium, and whereinthe data portion contains first hierarchical information and secondhierarchical information, the second data unit recorded in thesuccessive record length being divided into a plurality of groups in arepeated pattern corresponding to the type of the first data unit, thefirst hierarchical information describing the sequence of the pluralityof first data units in one group, the second hierarchy informationdescribing the sequence of the plurality of groups.

In such recording apparatus and record medium, since the sequence offirst data units is managed by management information hierarchicallystructured in a plurality of hierarchical levels, the sequence of firstdata units can be flexibly described.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a digital recordingand reproducing apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of a video encoder;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the structure of a video decoder;

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a QuickTime moviefile;

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the data structureof a QuickTime movie file;

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing another example of the datastructure of a QuickTime movie file;

FIG. 7A is a schematic diagram showing an interleaved data descriptiontable according to a first example of the present invention; FIG. 7B isa schematic diagram showing data successively recorded on a recordmedium according to the first example of the present invention;

FIG. 8A is a schematic diagram showing an interleaved data descriptiontable according to a second example of the present invention; FIG. 8B isa schematic diagram showing data successively recorded on a recordmedium according to the second example of the present invention;

FIG. 9A, FIG. 9B, and FIG. 9C are schematic diagrams showing aninterleaved data description table according to a third example of thepresent invention;

FIG. 10A″, FIG. 10B″, and FIG. 10C″ are schematic diagrams showing datasuccessively recorded on a record medium according to the third exampleof the present invention;

FIG. 11A, FIG. 11B, and FIG. 11C are schematic diagrams showing aninterleaved data description table according to a fourth example of thepresent invention;

FIG. 12A″, FIG. 12B″, and FIG. 12C″ are schematic diagrams showing datasuccessively recorded on a record medium according to the fourth exampleof the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the relation between a QuickTimemovie file and a recorded state on a record medium 40;

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of an MQTdescription atom;

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the data structureof an interleave description data atom;

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing another example of the datastructure of the interleave description data atom;

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the data structureof a track property atom;

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a track propertyatom;

FIG. 19A is a schematic diagram showing a group description tableaccording to a fifth example of the present invention; FIG. 19B is aschematic diagram showing a track description table according to thefifth example of the present invention; FIG. 19C is a schematic diagramshowing data successively recorded on a record medium according to thefifth example of the present invention;

FIG. 20A is a schematic diagram showing a group description tableaccording to a sixth example of the present invention; FIG. 20B is aschematic diagram showing a track description table according to thesixth example of the present invention; FIG. 20C is a schematic diagramshowing data successively recorded on a record medium according to thesixth example of the present invention;

FIG. 21A is a schematic diagram showing a group description tableaccording to a seventh example of the present invention; FIG. 21B is aschematic diagram showing a track description table according to theseventh example of the present invention; FIG. 21C is a schematicdiagram showing data successively recorded on a record medium accordingto the seventh example of the present invention;

FIG. 22A″ is a schematic diagram showing a group description tableaccording to an eighth example of the present invention; FIG. 22B″ is aschematic diagram showing a track description table according to theeighth example of the present invention; FIG. 22C″ is a schematicdiagram showing data successively recorded on a record medium accordingto the eighth example of the present invention;

FIG. 23A is a schematic diagram showing a group description tableaccording to a ninth example of the present invention; FIG. 23B is aschematic diagram showing a track description table for audio tracksaccording to the ninth example of the present invention; FIG. 23C is aschematic diagram showing a track description table for video tracksaccording to the ninth example of the present invention; FIG. 23D is aschematic diagram showing data successively recorded on a record mediumaccording to the ninth example of the present invention;

FIG. 24A′ is a schematic diagram showing a group description tableaccording to a tenth example of the present invention; FIG. 24B′ is aschematic diagram showing a track description table for audio tracksaccording to the tenth example of the present invention; FIG. 24C′ is aschematic diagram showing a track description table for video tracksaccording to the tenth example of the present invention; FIG. 24D′ is aschematic diagram showing data successively recorded on a record mediumaccording to the tenth example of the present invention;

FIG. 25A″ is a schematic diagram showing a group description tableaccording to the tenth example of the present invention; FIG. 25B″ is aschematic diagram showing a track description table for audio tracksaccording to the tenth example of the present invention; FIG. 25C″ is aschematic diagram showing a track description table for video tracksaccording to the tenth example of the present invention; FIG. 25D″ is aschematic diagram showing data successively recorded on a record mediumaccording to the tenth example of the present invention;

FIG. 26 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the structure of aQuickTime movie file; and

FIG. 27 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the structure of avideo media information atom.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Next, with reference to the accompanying drawings, embodiments of thepresent invention will be described. In each drawing, for simplicity,the description of similar structures may be omitted.

First Embodiment

According to a first embodiment of the present invention, a video signaland an audio signal are encoded corresponding to a predeterminedcompressing and decompressing system. Real data that has been encoded ina format that an application program that manages a sequence of realdata in a time series can handle is managed. The real data andmanagement data are recoded on a record medium in a predeterminedformat. In addition, according to the present invention, real data thathas been recorded is inversely processed with reference to themanagement data so as to reproduce the video signal and the audiosignal. One feature of the first embodiment is in that a QuickTime moviefile has a file that describes a playback rate of the record medium, asuccessive record length, and a seek time of a drive for a record medium(a time necessary for moving from one track to a different track andreproducing data from the different track).

According to the first embodiment, MPEG (Moving Picture Coding ExpertsGroup) system as a predetermined compressing and decompressing system,QT as an application program, and UDF (Universal Disk FormatSpecification) are used.

In the MPEG system, a compression and a decompression are performedbasically using discrete cosine transform (DCT), motion compensationinter-frame prediction, and variable length encoding. To easily performa random access, a GOP (Group Of Pictures) structure of which an Ipicture (intra-coded picture), a P picture (predictive-coded picture),and a B picture (bi-directionally predictive-coded picture) are combinedis used.

UDF is a standard with respect to a high density optical disc. UDF is ahierarchical file system. A sub directory is referenced from informationstored in a root directory. Another sub directory and a real file arereferenced from information stored in another sub directory.

Next, the structure of the recording and reproducing apparatus will bedescribed.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the structure of a digital recordingand reproducing apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the structure of a video encoder.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing the structure of a video decoder.

In FIGS. 1 to 3, the digital recording and reproducing apparatuscomprises a video encoder 11, an audio encoder 12, a video decoder 13,an audio decoder 14, a file generator 15, a file decoder 16, memories 17and 20, a memory controller 18, a system controlling microcomputer 19,an error correction code encoder/decoder 21, a drive controllingmicrocomputer 22, a data modulator/demodulator 23, a magnetic fieldmodulation driver 24, an operating portion 26, a servo circuit 30, amotor 31, a magnetic field head 32, and an optical pickup 33.

A video signal is input from a vide input terminal. The video signal issupplied to the video encoder 11. The video encoder 11 compresses andencodes the video signal. An audio signal is input from an audio inputterminal. The audio signal is supplied to the audio encoder 12. Theaudio encoder 12 compresses and encodes the audio signal. Output signalsof the video encoder 11 and the audio encoder 12 are called elementarysteams.

According to the first embodiment, it is assumed that the digitalrecording and reproducing apparatus is an apparatus integrated with acamera. The video signal is supplied as a picture photographed by thevideo camera. An optical system supplies photographed light of an objectto a photographing device such as CCD (Charge Coupled Device) andgenerates a video signal. As the audio signal, a sound collected by amicrophone is supplied.

When the compressing and encoding process corresponds to the MPEGsystem, as shown in FIG. 2, the video encoder 11 comprises ananalog/digital converter (hereinafter abbreviated as “A/D”) 51, a formatconverting portion 52, a screen re-arranging portion 53, a subtractingportion 54, a DCT portion 55, a quantizing portion 56, a variable lengthcode encoding portion 57, a buffer memory 58, a rate controlling portion59, an inversely quantizing portion 60, an inverse DCT portion 61, anadding portion 62, a video memory 63, a motion compensating andpredicting portion 64, and a switch 65 as electronic circuits.

A video signal is supplied to the video encoder 11. The A/D 51 digitizesthe video signal. The format converting portion 52 converts thedigitized signal into a spatial resolution used in the encoding process.The spatial resolution is supplied to the screen re-arranging portion53. The screen re-arranging portion 53 re-arranges the sequence ofpictures so that they can be properly processed in the encoding process.In other words, the screen re-arranging portion 53 re-arranges thesequence of pictures so that I pictures and P pictures are encodedbefore B pictures are encoded.

An output signal of the screen re-arranging portion 53 is input to theDCT portion 55 through the subtracting portion 54. The DCT portion 55performs a DCT encoding process for the signal supplied from the screenre-arranging portion 53. An output signal of the DCT portion 55 is inputto the quantizing portion 56. The quantizing portion 56 quantizes theoutput signal of the DCT portion 55 with a predetermined number of bits.An output signal of the quantizing portion 56 is input to the variablelength code encoding portion 57 and the inversely quantizing portion 60.The variable length code encoding portion 57 encodes the output signalof the quantizing portion 56 with variable length codes such as Huffmancodes of which data having a higher occurrence rate is assigned a shortcode. The encoded data is output to the buffer memory 58. The buffermemory 58 outputs the encoded data as output data of the video encoder11 at a predetermined rate. Since the code amount generated by thevariable length code encoding portion 57 is variable, the ratecontrolling portion 59 monitors the buffer memory 58 and controls thequantizing operation of the quantizing portion 56 so that apredetermined bit rate is kept.

On the other hand, since I pictures and P pictures are used as referencescreens by the motion compensating and predicting portion 64, a signalthat is input from the quantizing portion 56 to the inversely quantizingportion 60 is inversely quantized and then input to the inverse DCTportion 61. The inverse DCT portion 61 performs the inverse DCT processfor the inversely quantized signal. An output signal of the inverse DCTportion 61 and an output signal of the motion compensating andpredicting portion 64 are added by the adding portion 62. The addedsignal is input to the video memory 63. An output signal of the videomemory 63 is input to the motion compensating and predicting portion 64.The motion compensating and predicting portion 64 performs a forwardprediction, a backward prediction, and a bi-directional prediction forthe output signal of the video memory 63. An output signal of the motioncompensating and predicting portion 64 is output to the adding portion62 and the subtracting portion 54. The inversely quantizing portion 60,the inverse DCT portion 61, the adding portion 62, the video memory 63,and the motion compensating and predicting portion 64 compose a localdecoding portion that outputs the same decoded video signal as the videodecoder 13.

The subtracting portion 54 subtracts the output signal of the screenre-arranging portion 53 from the output signal of the motioncompensating and predicting portion 64 and obtains a predictive errorbetween the video signal and the decoded video signal decoded by thelocal decoding portion. When the intra-frame encoding process isperformed (namely, I pictures are supplied), the switch 65 causes thesubtracting device 54 not to perform a subtracting process for them. Inother words, the I pictures are supplied to the DCT portion 55.

Returning to FIG. 1, when for example MPEG/Audio layer 1/layer 2 isused, the audio encoder 12 further comprises a sub band encodingportion, an adaptive quantizing bit assigning portion, and so forth aselectronic circuits. The audio signal is divided into 32 sub bandsignals by the sub band encoding portion. The 32 sub band signals arequantized corresponding to psychological hearing sense weighting by theadaptive quantizing bit assigning portion. The quantized signal isoutput as a bit stream.

To improve the encoding quality, MPEG/audio layer 3 is used. In thiscase, the audio encoder 12 further comprises an adaptive block lengthmodified discrete cosine converting portion, a fold distortion reductionbutterfly portion, a non-linear quantizing portion, a variable lengthcode encoding portion, and so forth.

An output signal of the video encoder 11 and an output signal of theaudio encoder 12 are supplied to the file generator 15. The filegenerator 15 converts the video elementary stream and the audioelementary stream into file structures that a computer software programthat synchronously reproduces a moving picture, sound, and text canhandle without need to use a particular hardware structure. Such acomputer software program is for example the forgoing QT. The filegenerator 15 multiplexes the encoded video data and the encoded audiodata. The file generator 15 is controlled by the system controllingmicrocomputer 19.

A QuickTime movie file that is output from the file generator 15 issuccessively written to the memory 17 through the memory controller 18.When the system controlling microcomputer 19 requests the memorycontroller 18 to write data to a record medium 40, the memory controller18 reads a QuickTime movie file from the memory 17.

In this case, the transfer rate of an encoded QuickTime movie isdesignated so that it is lower than (for example, ½ of) the transferrate of data written to the record medium 40. Thus, although a QuickTimemovie file is successively written to the memory 17, a QuickTime moviefile is intermittently read from the memory 17 under the control of thesystem controlling microcomputer 19 so that the memory 17 does notoverflow or underflow.

The QuickTime movie file that is read from the memory 17 is suppliedfrom the memory controller 18 to the error correction codeencoder/decoder 21. The error correction code encoder/decoder 21temporarily writes the QuickTime movie file to the memory 20 so as togenerate redundant data of interleaved data and error correction codes.The error correction code encoder/decoder 21 reads the redundant datafrom the memory 20 and supplies the redundant data to the datamodulator/demodulator 23.

When digital data is recorded to the record medium 40, the datamodulator/demodulator 23 modules the data so that a clock can be easilyextracted from the reproduced signal and no inter-code interferencetakes place. For example (1, 7) RLL (run length limited) codes, Trelliscodes, and so forth can be used.

An output signal of the data modulator/demodulator 23 is supplied to themagnetic field modulation driver 24 and the optical pickup 33. Themagnetic field modulation driver 24 drives the magnetic field head 32corresponding to the input signal so as to apply a magnetic field to therecord medium 40. The optical pickup 33 radiates a recording laser beamcorresponding to the input signal to the record medium 40. In such amanner, data is recorded to the record medium 40.

The record medium 40 is a rewritable optical disc (for example, MO:magneto-optical disc), or a phase change type disc.

According to the first embodiment, an MO, for example, a relativelysmall disc whose diameter is around 4 cm, 5 cm, 6.5 cm, or 8 cm, isused. The record medium 40 is rotated at constant linear velocity (CLV),constant angular velocity (CAV), or zone CLV (ZCLV) by the motor 31.

The drive controlling microcomputer 22 outputs a signal to the servocircuit 30 corresponding to a request from the system controllingmicrocomputer 19. The servo circuit 30 controls the motor 31 and theoptical pickup 33 corresponding to the output signal of the drivecontrolling microcomputer 22. As a result, the drive controllingmicrocomputer 22 controls the entire drive. For example, the servocircuit 30 performs a radius traveling servo operation, a tracking servooperation, and a focus servo operation for the record medium 40 andcontrols the rotations of the motor 31.

The operating portion 26 is connected to the system controllingmicrocomputer 19. The user can input a predetermined command to theoperating portion 26.

In the reproduction mode, the optical pickup 33 radiates a laser beamhaving a reproduction output level to the record medium 40. The opticaldetector of the optical pickup 33 receives the reflected light as areproduction signal. In this case, the drive controlling microcomputer22 detects a tracking error and a focus error from an output signal ofthe optical detector of the optical pickup 33. The servo circuit 30controls the optical pickup 33 so that the reading laser beam focuses ona predetermined track. In addition, the drive controlling microcomputer22 controls the traveling in the radius direction of the optical pickupso as to reproduce data at a desired position on the record medium 40.Like the recording mode, the desired position is determined by thesystem controlling microcomputer 19 in such a manner that the systemcontrolling microcomputer 19 supplies a predetermined signal to thedrive controlling microcomputer 22.

A signal reproduced by the optical pickup 33 is supplied to the datamodulator/demodulator 23. The data modulator/demodulator 23 demodulatesthe reproduced signal. The demodulated data is supplied to the errorcorrection code encoder/decoder 21. The reproduced data is temporarilystored in the memory 20. The error correction code encoder/decoder 21performs a de-interleaving process and an error correcting process forthe demodulated data. The QuickTime movie file that has been errorcorrected is stored to the memory 17 through the memory controller 18.

The QuickTime movie file stored in the memory 17 is output to the filedecoder 16 corresponding to a request from the system controllingmicrocomputer 19. The system controlling microcomputer 19 monitors thedata amount of the reproduction signal reproduced from the record medium40 and stored in the memory 17 and the data amount of the data that isread from the memory 17 and supplied to the file decoder 16 and controlsthe memory controller 18 and the drive controlling microcomputer 22 sothat the memory 17 does not overflow and underflow. In such a manner,the system controlling microcomputer 19 intermittently reads data fromthe record medium 40.

The file decoder 16 separates the QuickTime movie file into a videoelementary stream and an audio elementary stream under the control ofthe system controlling microcomputer 19. The video elementary stream issupplied to the video decoder 13. The video decoder 13 decodes the videoelementary stream that has been compressed and encoded. The decodedvideo data is output from a video output terminal. The audio elementarystream is supplied to the audio decoder 14. The audio decoder 14 decodesthe audio elementary stream that has been compressed and encoded. Thedecoded audio data is output from an audio output terminal. The filedecoder 16 synchronously output the video elementary stream and theaudio elementary stream.

When the video decoder 13 corresponds to the MPEG system, the videodecoder 13 comprises a buffer memory 71, a variable length code decodingportion 72, an inversely quantizing portion 73, an inverse DCT portion74, an adding portion 75, a video memory 78, a motion compensating andpredicting portion 79, a screen re-arranging portion 76, and adigital/analog converting portion (hereinafter abbreviated as D/A) 77 aselectronic circuits. A video elementary stream is temporarily stored inthe buffer memory 71. Thereafter, the video elementary stream is inputto the variable length code decoding portion 72. The variable lengthcode decoding portion 72 decodes macro block encoded information andseparates it into an encoding mode, a moving vector, quantizedinformation, and quantized DCT coefficients. The inversely quantizingportion 73 de-quantizes the quantized DCT coefficients into DCTcoefficients. The inverse DCT portion 74 coverts the DCT coefficientsinto pixel spatial data. The adding portion 75 adds an output signal ofthe inverse DCT portion 74 and an output signal of the motioncompensating and predicting portion 79. However, when an I picture isdecoded, the adding portion 75 does not add these output signals. Allmacro blocks of the screen are decoded. The screen re-arranging portion76 re-arranges the decoded macro blocks in the original input sequence.The D/A 77 converts the re-arranged data into an analog signal. Since anI picture and a P picture are used as reference screens in the decodingprocess that follows, they are stored in the video memory 78. The Ipicture and the P picture are output to the motion compensating andpredicting portion 79.

Returning to FIG. 1, when MPEG/Audio layer 1/layer 2 is used, the audiodecoder 14 comprises a bit stream disassembling portion, an inverselyquantizing portion, and a sub band combining filter bank portion aselectronic circuits. An input audio elementary stream is supplied to thebit stream disassembling portion. The bit stream disassembling portionseparates the input audio elementary stream into a header, auxiliaryinformation, and a quantized sub band signal. The inversely quantizingportion inversely quantizes the quantized sub band signal by apredetermined number of bits that has been assigned. The sub bandcombining band filter combines the inversely quantized data and outputsthe combined data.

Next, a QuickTime movie file used in such a recording and reproducingapparatus will be described.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a QuickTime moviefile.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the data structureof a QuickTime movie file.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing another example of the datastructure of a QuickTime movie file.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show coding lists corresponding to a programminglanguage.

In FIG. 4, a QuickTime movie file contains a movie data atom 101, amovie atom 102, and an MQT description atom 103. The movie data atom 101is an atom that corresponds to the media data atom 502 shown in FIG. 26.The movie data atom 101 contains a video chunk and an audio chunk. Themovie atom 102 is an atom that corresponds to the movie atom 501 shownin FIG. 26. The movie atom 102 is a management file for managing themovie data atom 101. The MQT description atom 103 contains informationthat represents in what unit various types of chunks for example anaudio chunk and a video chunk are represented as a successive recordlength on the record medium 40. The MQT description atom 103 alsocontains a playback rate of the record medium 40 and a seek time of adrive of the record medium 40.

The MQT description atom 103 contains an interleaved data descriptionatom (hereinafter abbreviated as IDDA) 201 and a set performance atom(hereinafter abbreviated as STPA) 202. According to the firstembodiment, the MQT description atom 103 has a type for example “mqbs”.

The IDDA 201 contains a track ID, a number-of-entries (hereinafterabbreviated as NOE), and an interleaved data description table(hereinafter abbreviated as IDDT) 211. The IDDA 201 is generated foreach track.

The track ID is an identification code with which the IDDA 201identifies the corresponding track. According to the first embodiment,the IDDA 201 is the corresponding track number. The track ID is assignedfour bytes.

The NOE is the number of IDDTs 211. The NOE is assigned four bytes.

The IDDT 211 contains a first chunk, a next track ID, anumber-of-recorded-chunks, a number-of-repeats, a duration, and arecorded data size. The IDDT 211 is generated whenever a recordedpattern is changed.

The first chunk is a beginning chunk that is successively recorded in achanged data structure on the record medium 40. According to the firstembodiment, the first chunk is represented by the number of thebeginning chunk. The first chunk is assigned four bytes.

The next track ID is an identification code that represents a track thatis successively recorded against a particular track on the record medium40. The next track ID also represents a connecting state of tracks in atime series in a successive record length. According to the firstembodiment of the present invention, the next track ID is represented bythe track ID and assigned four bytes.

According to the first embodiment, the data structure of the successiverecord length (connecting sequence of tracks in a time series) isrepresented by the next track ID. However, the data structure of thesuccessive record length may be represented by a track sequence numberof the data structure as a position number. For example, in FIG. 7B, thedata structure is composed of a first audio track and a second videotrack. The position numbers of these tracks may be represented by “1”,“2”, and so on.

The number-of-recorded-chunks is the number of chunks successivelyrecorded on a designated track of the record medium 40. Thenumber-of-recorded-chunks is assigned two bytes.

The number-of-repeats is the number of times of which a combination ofchunks on a designated track is repeatedly recorded on the record medium40. In other words, the number-of-repeats is the number of times ofwhich chunks of the same track that are successively recorded arerepeated after data of different tracks that are interleaved. Thenumber-of-repeats is assigned one byte.

The duration is a time length of data of a track successively recorded.The duration is assigned four bytes.

The recorded data size is the data size of the same type of tracks. Inparticular, the recorded data size is used to determine whether or notdata that has been edited can be successively reproduced. The recordeddata size has three types that are the maximum recorded data size, theminimum recorded data size, and the average recorded data size of fourbytes each. When necessary, they are contained in the IDDT 201. In otherwords, there are eight cases: (1) the IDDT 201 contains the maximumrecorded data size, the minimum recorded data size, and the averagerecorded data size, (2) the IDDT 201 contains the maximum recorded datasize and the average recorded data size, (3) the IDDT 201 contains theminimum recorded data size the average recorded data size, (4) the IDDT201 contains the maximum recorded data size and the minimum recordeddata size, (5) the IDDT 201 contains the maximum recorded data size, (6)the IDDT 201 contains the minimum recorded data size, (7) the IDDT 201contains the average recorded data size, and (8) the IDDT 201 does notcontain the maximum recorded data size, the minimum recorded data size,and the average recorded data size. When the track data size is notchanged, as with the cases (1) to (7), at least one of the maximumrecorded data size, the minimum recorded data size, and the averagerecorded data size is described to the IDDA 201 with the same value.Alternatively, one of them is described as the recorded data size.Although there are many cases, to determine whether or not data that hasbeen edited can be successively reproduced, at least one of values ofthe recorded data size is described to the IDDT 211 or IDDA 201.

FIG. 5 shows the case that the maximum recorded data size, the minimumrecorded data size, and the average recorded data size are described inthe IDDT 211. FIG. 6 shows the case that the maximum recorded data size,the minimum recorded data size, and the average recorded data size aredescribed in the IDDA 201.

According to the first embodiment, the data size contained in thesuccessive record length is represented by its value. Alternatively, therecorded data size may be used.

The STPA 202 contains a seek time of two bytes and a playback rate (bps)of two bytes. These values are described in the STPA 202.

The size of the duration depends on the easiness of the editingoperation, the seek time, and the playback rate. The easiness of theediting operation is reversely proportional to the value of theduration. However, when the value of the duration is too small, the sumof the seek time and the playback time (the number of bits that areread/playback rate) becomes larger than the data playback time of thesuccessive record length. As a result, it becomes difficult tosuccessively reproduce a movie.

In the forgoing description, although assigned bytes are represented aspractical values, they are just examples. In other words, they areassigned corresponding to the values of the individual fields.

In such a manner, the MQT description atom 103 contains information thatrepresents what chunks of what tracks have been successively recorded asa set in what quantity unit on the record medium 40. In other words,according to the first embodiment, management information for datacontained in the successive record length and information that dependson a recording apparatus such as a drive are contained as a block in theMQT description atom 103.

When the recording and reproducing apparatus reproduces a QuickTimemovie file, the apparatus references the MQT description atom 103,determines the recorded state of the real data on the record medium 40,reads a block of data that has been successively recorded, anddetermines whether or not while the apparatus is reproducing the datathat has been read, it can read the next block of data. As a result, theapparatus can determine whether or not it can successively reproduce thedata.

When real data recorded on the record medium 40 is edited, byreferencing the MQT description atom 103, the recording and reproducingapparatus can determine whether or not it can successively reproduce thedata in the structure of which the data has been edited.

When the determined result represents that the apparatus cannotsuccessively reproduce the data, it is preferred that the apparatusissues an alarm thereabout.

When a recording and reproducing apparatus that has recorded real datato the record medium 40 is different from a recording and reproducingapparatus that reproduces the real data or when a recording andreproducing apparatus that has recorded real data to the record medium40 is different from a recording and reproducing apparatus that editsthe real data, the MQT description atom 103 is especially useful.

In addition, since such information is collectively described in the MQTdescription atom 103, it can be clearly distinguished from the movieatom 102 that descries a logical structure. In particular, even if arecording and reproducing apparatus cannot recognize the MQT descriptionatom 103, when the apparatus ignores it, the apparatus can reproduce aQuickTime movie file.

In addition, according to the first embodiment, the MQT description atom103 is placed at the highest hierarchical level of the data structure.Alternatively, information contained in the MQT description atom 103 maybe placed in a higher hierarchical level than the movie atom 102. Inparticular, since information is collected without tracing thehierarchy, it is preferred to place information contained in the MQTdescription atom 103 in the highest hierarchical level.

Next, a process for which the digital recording and reproducingapparatus interprets a data structure of data successively recorded onthe record medium 40 with information contained in the MQT descriptionatom 103 will be described using a more practical example.

First Example

FIG. 7 shows an interleaved data description table and data successivelyrecorded on a record medium according to a first example of the presentinvention. FIG. 7A shows the interleaved data description table. FIG. 7Bshows the data successively recoded on the record medium.

In FIG. 7A, the IDDT 211 contains the following values for an audiotrack.

First chunk=1

Next track ID=2

Number of recorded chunks=2

Number of repeats=2

Duration=n (where n=any positive integer)

Maximum recorded data size=a (where a is any positive integer)

Minimum recorded data size=a

Average recorded data size=a

The IDDT 211 contains the following values for a video track.

First chunk=1

Next track ID=0

Number of recorded chunks=1

Number of repeats=2

Duration=n

Maximum recorded data size=b (where b is any positive integer)

Minimum recorded data size=b

Average recorded data size=b

When the MQT description atom 103 contains the forgoing values, thesystem controlling microcomputer 19 of the digital recording andreproducing apparatus determines a data structure of data successivelyrecorded on the record medium 40 in the following manner.

First of all, since the first chunk is 1, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 determines that the beginning chunk of audio of trackID=1 is chunk #1. Since the first chunk is 1, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 determines that the beginning chunk of video of trackID=2 is chunk #1.

Next, since the number of recorded chunks is 2, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 determines that audio of track ID=1 is two successivechunks. Since the number of recorded chunks is 1, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 determines that video of track ID=2 is one chunk.

Next, since the next track ID is 2, the system controlling microcomputer19 determines that audio of track ID=1 is followed by track ID=2(namely, video of track ID=2). Since the next track ID is 0, the systemcontrolling microcomputer 19 determines that video of track ID=2 is notfollowed by any new track.

Next, since the number of repeats is 2, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 determines that audio of track ID=1 is repeated twotimes in the same recorded state. Since the number of repeats is 2, thesystem controlling microcomputer 19 determines that video of track ID=2is repeated two times in the same recorded state.

Next, since the duration is n (where n is any positive integer), themaximum recorded data size is a (where a is any positive integer), theminimum recorded data size is a, and the average recorded data size isa, the system controlling microcomputer 19 determines that the timelength of data of audio of track ID=1 is n and that the data size is aas a fixed value. Since the duration is n, the maximum recorded datasize is b (where b is any positive integer), the minimum recorded datasize is b, and the average recorded data size is b, the systemcontrolling microcomputer 19 determines that the time length of data ofvideo of track ID=2 is n and that the data size is b as a fixed value.

In such a manner, the system controlling microcomputer 19 determinesthat the data structure of data successively recorded on the recordmedium 40 is as shown in FIG. 7B.

Second Example

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an interleaved data descriptiontable and data successively recorded on a record medium according to asecond example of the present invention. FIG. 8A shows the interleaveddata description table. FIG. 8B shows the data successively recorded onthe record medium.

In FIG. 8A, the IDDT 211 contains the following values for an audiotrack.

First chunk=1

Next track ID=3

Number of recorded chunks=2

Number of repeats=1

Duration=n

Maximum recorded data size=a

Minimum recorded data size=a

Average recorded data size=a

The IDDT 211 contains the following values for an audio track.

First chunk=1

Next track ID=1

Number of recorded chunks=4

Number of repeats=1

Duration=n

Maximum recorded data size=c (where c is any positive integer)

Minimum recorded data size=c

Average recorded data size=c

The IDDT 211 contains the following values for a video track.

First chunk=1

Next track ID=0

Number of recorded chunks=1

Number of repeats=1

Duration=n

Maximum recorded data size=b

Minimum recorded data size=b

Average recorded data size=b

When the MQT description atom 103 contains the forgoing values, witheach “first chunk”, the system controlling microcomputer 19 determinesthat the beginning chunk of audio of track ID=2 is chunk #1, that thebeginning chunk of audio of track ID=3 is chunk #1, and that thebeginning chunk of video of track ID=1 is chuck #1.

Next, with each “number of recorded chunks”, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 determines that audio of track ID=2 is two successivechunks, that audio of track ID=3 is four successive chunks, and thatvideo of track ID=1 is one chunk.

Next, with each “next track ID”, the system controlling microcomputer 19determines that audio of track ID=2 is followed by audio of track ID=3,that audio of track ID 3 is followed by audio of ID=1, and that video oftrack ID=1 is not followed by any new track.

Next, with each “number of repeats”, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 determines that audio of track ID=2 is repeated onetime in the same recorded state, that audio of track ID=3 is repeatedone time in the same recorded state, and that video of track ID=1 isrepeated one time in the same recorded state.

Next, with each “duration”, each “maximum recorded data size”, each“minimum recorded data size”, and each “average recorded data size”, thesystem controlling microcomputer 19 determines that the time length ofdata of audio of track ID=2 is n, that the data size is a as a fixedvalue, that the time length of data of audio of track ID=3 is n, thatthe data size is c as a fixed value (where c is any positive integer),that the time length of data of video of track ID=1 is n, and that thedata size is b as a fixed value.

In such a manner, the system controlling microcomputer 19 determinesthat the data structure of data successively recorded on the recordmedium 40 is as shown in FIG. 8B.

Next, with reference to FIG. 8B, the case that a part of tracks isreserved for an area that is after-recorded will be described.

In the data structure of the successive record length shown in FIG. 8B,for example audio track (Audio B) of track ID=3 is reserved for an areathat is after-recoded. In other words, original audio data that is inputfrom an audio input is recorded on audio track (Audio A) of track ID=2.Original video data that is input from a video input is recorded onvideo track (Video) of track ID=1. At that point, audio track (Audio B)of track ID=3 is allocated as a reserve area for any data on the recordmedium 40. For example, blank data (all bits are zero) corresponding toaudio A data is recorded as a reserved area. Alternatively, when videodata of track ID=1 is recorded, an offset for bytes corresponding toaudio A is allocated. As a result, an area from the record end positionof audio A data to the offset is allocated as a reserved area.

When audio data is after-recorded in a movie recorded in such a datastructure, the audio data is recorded in the reserved area (namely,track ID=3).

In such a manner, when data is recorded, a reserved area is allocated ina successive record length of the record medium 40. As a result, whendata is recorded on a record medium on which another data has beenrecorded, the reserved area can be used. Using the reserved area,post-recorded data can be reproduced in synchronization withpre-recorded data. In addition, since a reserved are is allocated in thesuccessive record length, post-recorded data can be easily andsuccessively reproduced.

For example, when audio data is after-recorded as audio B on track ID=3,the recording and reproducing apparatus can synchronously reproduce theafter-recorded audio data and video data. Since related video chunks andafter-recorded audio chunks are physically successively recorded, notrack jump takes place. Thus, a movie that has been after-recorded canbe reproduced without a break.

To determine what track is for original data (that has been originallyrecorded on the record medium 40) and what track is for a reserved areafor after-recorded data (that is post-recorded on the record medium 40),as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a flag is provided for the interleaved datadescription atom. For example, when the first bit (LSB) of the flag is“0”, it represents that the corresponding track is a track for originaldata. When the first bit of the flag is “1”, it represents that thecorresponding track is a track for after-recorded data. In addition, torepresent whether or not data has been recorded in the reserved area,for example the second bit of the flag is used. When the second bit is“0”, it represents that the reserved area has not been used (namely,data has not been after-recorded). When the second bit of the flag is“1”, it represents that the reserved area has been used (namely, datahas been after-recorded). With reference to the flag, the recording andreproducing apparatus can determine track ID=2 or track ID=3 from whichaudio data should be reproduced with priority. In addition, after datahas been recorded to the reserved area, when the data is erasedtherefrom, with reference to the flag, the recording and reproducingapparatus can easily determine the reserved area from which audio datashould be erased.

Alternatively, a new field that identifies a reserved area (for example,an attribute field) may be disposed in the interleaved data descriptionatom or interleaved data description atom. Attributes such asidentification of original audio/original video, state identification ofreserved area not recorded/reserved area recorded, after-recorded audio,second foreign language audio, multi-angle video and reproductionpriority can be described in the attribute field.

In addition to the methods using such a flag and field, when data isrecorded, track IDs may be designated. For example, track ID=1 isdesignated original data, whereas track ID=2 is designatedafter-recorded data. Alternatively, track ID=1 is designated originalaudio, track ID=2 is designated original video, track ID=3 is designatedafter-recorded audio, track ID=4 to n are designated second foreignlanguage audio, track ID=i to k are designated multi-angle video (wheren, i, and k are any integers, 4≦n<i<k). In this case, the reproductionpriority is reversely proportion to the track ID value. In such a case,to determine whether the reserved area is blank or full, the enable flagof the field format of QT may be used.

Next, examples of which the data structure of the successive recordlength is changed (namely, the data structure of the successive recordlength is changed while data is being recorded and the data structure ofthe successive record length is changed after data is edited) will bedescribed.

Third Example

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an interleaved data descriptiontable according to a third example of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing data successively recorded on arecord medium according to the third example of the present invention.

According to the third example of the present invention, an IDDT 211 ischanged from a table shown in FIG. 9A to a table shown in FIG. 9B andthen to a table shown in FIG. 9C.

In FIG. 9A, an IDDT 211-11 contains the following values for an audiotrack.

First chunk=1

Next track ID=2

Number of recorded chunks=2

Number of repeats=2

Duration=n

Maximum recorded data size=a

Minimum recorded data size=a

Average recorded data size=a

An IDDT 211-21 contains the following values for a video track.

First chunk=1

Next track ID=0

Number of recorded chunks=1

Number of repeats=2

Duration=n

Maximum recorded data size=b

Minimum recorded data size=b

Average recorded data size=b

With these values, the system controlling microcomputer 19 determinesthat audio of track ID=1 starts with chunk #1 and that video of trackID=2 is successive for two chunks. The system controlling microcomputer19 determines that video of track ID=2 starts with chunk #1 and is notfollowed by any new track. Next, the system controlling microcomputer 19determines that audio of ID=1 is repeated two times in the same recordedstate and that video of track ID=2 is repeated two times in the samerecorded state. In addition, the system controlling microcomputer 19determines that the time length of data of audio of track ID=1 is n,that the data size is a as a fixed value, and that the time length ofdata of video of track ID=1 is n, and that the data size is b as a fixedvalue.

As a result, the system controlling microcomputer 19 determines that thedata structure of data successively recorded on the record medium 40 isas shown in FIG. 10A″.

When audio of track ID=1 is changed from a data structure of which asuccessive record length containing chuck=k (where k is any positiveinteger) to a data structure of which the number of samples of the chunkis doubled, an IDDT 211-12 is added to the IDDT 211-11. FIG. 9B showsthe IDDT 211-12. In FIG. 9B, the IDDT 211-12 contains the followingvalues for an audio track.

First chunk=k

Next track ID=2

Number of recorded chunks=1

Number of repeats=2

Duration=n

Maximum recorded data size=a

Minimum recorded data size=a

Average recorded data size=a

Since successive chunks are collected to one chunk, number of recordedchunk=1, the number of recorded chunks becomes 1. However, the value of“duration” and each value of “recorded data size” are not changed. Sincevideo of track ID=2 is not changed, no table is added.

FIG. 10B″ shows a data structure corresponding to the table shown inFIG. 9B.

In addition, audio of track ID=1 is changed from a data structure of asuccessive record length containing chunk=m (where m is any positiveinteger) to a data structure of which the number of samples of the chunkis halved, the duration is doubled, and the recorded data size isdoubled. In addition, video of track ID=2 is changed from a datastructure of a successive record length containing chunk=j (where j isany positive integer) to a data structure of which the duration isdoubled and the recorded data size is doubled. When the recordedsequence of audio ad video is changed, an IDDT 211-13 for audio is addedto the IDDT 211-12. In addition, an IDDT 211-22 for video is added tothe IDDT 211-21. FIG. 9C shows the IDDT 211-13 and the IDDT 211-22. InFIG. 9C, the IDDT 211-13 contains the following values for an audiotrack.

First chunk=m

Next track ID=0

Number of recorded chunks=2

Number of repeats=2

Duration=2×n

Maximum recorded data size=2×a

Minimum recorded data size=2×a

Average recorded data size=2×a

The IDDT 211-22 contains the following values for a video track.

First chunk=j

Next track ID=1

Number of recorded chunks=2

Number of repeats=1

Duration=2×n

Maximum recorded data size=2×b

Minimum recorded data size=2×b

Average recorded data size=2×b

In this example, since a data structure has been changed so that videois followed by audio, the next track ID for audio becomes 0 and the nexttrack ID for video becomes 1.

FIG. 10C″ shows the data structure corresponding to the table shown inFIG. 9C.

Fourth Example

FIG. 11 shows an interleaved data description table according to afourth example of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram showing data successively recoded on arecord medium according to the fourth example of the present invention.

An IDDT 211 according to the fourth example of the present invention ischanged from a table shown in FIG. 11A to a table shown in FIG. 11B andthen to a table shown in FIG. 11C.

In FIG. 11A, an IDDT 211-11 contains the following values for an audiotrack.

First chunk=1

Next track ID=2

Number of recorded chunks=2

Number of repeats=2

Duration=n

Maximum recorded data size=a

Minimum recorded data size=a

Average recorded data size=a

An IDDT 211-21 contains the following values for a video track.

First chunk=1

Next track ID=0

Number of recorded chunks=1

Number of repeats=2

Duration=n

Maximum recorded data size=b

Minimum recorded data size=b

Average recorded data size=b

With these values, the system controlling microcomputer 19 determinesthat audio of track ID=1 starts with chunk #1, that two chunks aresuccessive, and that audio of track ID=1 is followed by video of trackID=2. The system controlling microcomputer 19 determines that video oftrack ID=2 starts with chunk #1, that the number of recorded chunks isone, and that video of track ID=2 is not followed by any new track. Thesystem controlling microcomputer 19 determines that audio of track ID=1is repeated two times in the same recorded state and that video of trackID=2 is repeated two times in the same recorded state. In addition, thesystem controlling microcomputer 19 determines that the time length ofdata of audio of track ID=1 is n, that the data size is a as a fixedvalue, that data of video of track ID=1 is n, and that the data size isb as a fixed value.

As a result, the system controlling microcomputer 19 determines that thedata structure of data successively recorded on the record medium 40 isas shown in FIG. 12A″.

When audio of track ID=1 is changed from a data structure of asuccessive record length containing chunk=k to a data structure of whichthe recorded data size is variable, an IDDT 211-12 is added to the IDDT211-11. FIG. 11B shows the IDDT 211-12. In FIG. 11B, the IDDT 211-12contains the following values for an audio track.

First chunk=k

Next track ID=2

Number of recorded chunks=2

Number of repeats=2

Duration=n

Maximum recorded data size=x (where x is any positive integer)

Minimum recorded data size=y (where y is any positive integer)

Average recorded data size=z (where z is any positive integer)

Since the data structure is not changed, the values of “next track ID”,“number of recorded chunks”, “number of repeats”, and “duration” are notvaried. Since data is recorded in a variable length, the values of“maximum recorded data size”, “minimum recorded data size”, and “averagerecorded data size” may be different from each other. Since video oftrack ID=2 is not changed, no table is added.

FIG. 12B″ shows a data structure corresponding to the tale shown in FIG.11B.

When audio of track ID=1 is changed from a data structure of asuccessive record length containing chunk=m (where m is any positiveinteger) to a data structure of which the number of samples of the chunkis changed, the duration is changed. When video of track ID=2 is changedfrom a data structure of a successive record length containing chunk=j(where j is any positive integer) to a data structure of which thenumber of samples of the chunk is changed, the duration is changed. Inthis case, an IDDT 211-13 for audio is added to the IDDT 211-12. An IDDT211-22 for video is added to the IDDT 211-21. FIG. 11C shows the IDDT211-13 and the IDDT 211-22. In FIG. 11C, the IDDT 211-13 contains thefollowing values for an audio track.

First chunk=m

Next track ID=2

Number of recorded chunks=2

Number of repeats=2

Duration=n′ (where n′ is any positive integer)

Maximum recorded data size=x′ (where x′ is any positive integer)

Minimum recorded data size=y′ (where y′ is any positive integer)

Average recorded data size=z′ (where z′ is any positive integer)

The IDDT 211-22 contains the following values for a video track.

First chunk=j

Next track ID=0

Number of recorded chunks=1

Number of repeats=2

Duration=n′

Maximum recorded data size=b′ (where b′ is any positive integer)

Minimum recorded data size=b′

Average recorded data size=b′

FIG. 12C″ shows a data structure corresponding to the table shown inFIG. 11C.

In the first to fourth examples, the process for interpreting the datastructure of data recorded on the record medium 40 with informationcontained in the MQT description atom 103 was described. Of course, whendata is recorded in such a data structure on the record medium 40, therecording and reproducing apparatus generates the MQT description atomscorresponding to the first to fourth examples of the present invention.

Next, the relation between a QuickTime movie file and a recorded stateon the record medium 40 will be described.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing the relation between a QuickTimemovie file and a recorded state on the record medium 40.

In FIG. 13, one video decode unit composes one sample of a QuickTimefile format. One video decode unit is composed of a sequence header (SH)and GOP corresponding to the MPEG system. Two samples that arechronologically successive compose one video chunk. One video chunkcorresponds to one second. Alternatively, one sample may be composed ofsix GOPs. One video chunk may be composed of one sample. Likewise, oneaudio decode unit composes one sample of a QuickTime file format. 42samples that are chronologically successive compose one audio chunk.Assuming that the sampling frequency is 48 kH, one audio chunkcorresponds to around one second.

As was described above, a QuickTime movie file is largely divided into amovie data atom 101, a movie atom 102, and an MQT description atom 103.When a QuickTime movie file is recorded on the record medium 40, aplurality of chunks each of which is composed of the movie atom 102, theMQT description atom 103, and the movie data atom 101 is correlated withthe successive record length. The successive record length is a lengthof which chunks can be written to successive addresses in one accessoperation of the optical pickup 33 (namely, without need to perform ajumping operation of the optical pickup 33). When video chunks and audiochunks have been multiplexed, a plurality of sets of audio chunks andvideo chunks that correspond in movie data are correlated with thesuccessive record length.

As shown in FIG. 13, one or a plurality of chunks may be contained asthe successive record length. The positions of the successive recordlengths on the record medium 40 (for example, an optical disc) arephysically non-successive. Thus, after data of one successive recordlength is reproduced, when data of the next successive record length isreproduced, a track jump takes place. For example, after successiverecord length data 101-1 is reproduced, when successive record lengthdata 101-2 is reproduced, a track jump takes place from point a to pointb on the record medium 40. Thus, to successively reproduce thesuccessive record length data 101-1 and the successive record lengthdata 101-2, it is necessary to travel the optical pickup from point a topoint b and read the successive record length data 101-2 while theapparatus is reproducing the successive record length data 101-1.

In other words, it is necessary to satisfy the equation (1).

Td Ts+Lb/Tr  Equation (1)

where Td is the time length of the successive record length data; Lb isthe number of bits of the successive record length data; Ts is the seektime; and Tr is the playback rate.

In reality, considering margin Tm due to the fabrication fluctuation ofthe reading apparatus, the equation (2) should be satisfied.

Td Ts+Lb/Tr+Tm  Equation (2)

To determine whether or not the equation (2) (or equation (1)) issatisfied, the system controlling microcomputer 19 can use informationcontained in the MQT description atom 103. In other words, the systemcontrolling microcomputer 19 calculates the time length Td of thesuccessive record length and the number of bits Lb of the successiverecord length with information contained in the IDDA 201. In addition,the system controlling microcomputer 19 calculates the seek time Ts andthe playback time Lb/Tr with information contained in the setperformance atom 202. Corresponding to the calculated results, thesystem controlling microcomputer 19 can determine whether or not theequation (2) (or the equation (1)) is satisfied.

In particular, when data of the movie data atom 101 that has beenrecorded on the record medium 40 is edited, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 can determine whether or not that data that has beenedited can be successively reproduced in the data structure of the datathat has been edited with information contained in the MQT descriptionatom 103. Since the MQT description atom 103 contains values of “maximumrecorded data size”, “minimum recorded data size”, and “average recordeddata size”, the satisfying limitation of the equation (2) (or theequation (1)) can be calculated with them. The apparatus can determinewhether or not data that is edited can be successively reproduced in thedata structure that is edited without need to collect information fromthe sample description table of the movie atom 102. Thus, the timenecessary for determining whether or not data that is edited can besuccessively reproduced in the data structure of the data that is editedusing the MQT description atom 103 is shorter than that with the sampledescription table.

For reference, as an undisclosed technology filed as Japanese PatentApplication No. 11-356037, a process for calculating the time length anddata length of a successive record length as a block with the sampledescription table contained in the movie atom will be described.According to the technology filed as Japanese Patent Application No.11-356037, by additionally defining a field group in the sampledescription table, information such as the relation of tracks on whichdata is successively recorded and the number of chunks in the successiverecord length can be contained.

The time length of the successive record length is calculated forexample in the following manner.

Firstly, corresponding to the field group additionally defined in thesample description table, the beginning of audio of any successiverecord length and the beginning chunk number of the next successiverecord length (chunk(h), chunk(h+4)) are obtained.

Secondly, corresponding to the sample-to-chunk atom 576, the beginningsample number (sample (h-first)) in chunk (h) is obtained.

Thirdly, corresponding to the sample-to-chunk atom 576, the beginningsample number (sample (h+4-first)) in chunk (h+4) is obtained.

Fourthly, corresponding to the time-to-sample atom 573, the time unit(tu (h-first)) of sample (h-first) is obtained.

Fifthly, corresponding to the time-to-sample atom 573, the time unit (tu(h+4-first)) of sample (h+4-first) is obtained.

Sixthly, the time unit of audio of the successive record length iscalculated with tu (h-first) and tu (h+4-first).

Seventhly, the real time length is calculated with the time scale of themedia header atom 544.

On the other hand, the data length of the successive record length iscalculated for example in the following manner.

Firstly, corresponding to the field group additionally defined in thesample description table, the beginning chunk number (chunk (h)) of thetrack of the next successive record length against any forgoingsuccessive record length is obtained.

Secondly, corresponding to the field group additionally defined in thesample description table, the beginning chunk number (chunk (h+4)) ofthe track of the next successive record length against any forgoingsuccessive record length is obtained.

Thirdly, corresponding to the chunk offset atom 577, since the chunkoffset (ad (h)) of chunk (h) is the beginning logical address of thesuccessive record length, the chunk offset (ad (h)) is obtained.

Fourthly, corresponding to the chunk offset atom 577, since the chunkoffset of chunk (h+4) is the beginning logical address (ad (h+4)) of thesuccessive record length, the chunk offset (ad (h+4)) is obtained.

Fifthly, the data length is calculated with ad (h) and ad (h+4).

In the forgoing manner, the time length and data length of thesuccessive record length are calculated. However, since they should becalculated for each track, a huge number of calculations are required.

On the other hand, as was described above, with the MQT descriptionatom, a huge number of calculations can be suppressed.

Since the MQT description table is provided, a first type recording andreproducing apparatus can edit data that has been recorded on a recordmedium 40 by a second type recording and reproducing apparatus so thatthe second type recording and reproducing apparatus can easily andsuccessively reproduce the data edited by the first type recording andreproducing apparatus. For example, a personal computer can edit datathat has been recorded by a video camera so that the video camera cansuccessively reproduce the data edited by the personal computer.

In addition, since information of a chunk whose data structure has beenchanged is contained as a first chunk, as shown in the third example andthe fourth example, the data structure can be flexibly changed.

According to the first embodiment, a digital recording and reproducingapparatus is disposed in a portable camera-integrated disc recoding andreproducing apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited tosuch an apparatus. The digital recording and reproducing apparatusaccording to the present invention can be used as a single apparatus(not integrated with a camera). In addition, the digital recording andreproducing apparatus can be disposed in a computer on which anQuickTime application software program runs. In addition, the presentinvention can be applied to the case that both video data and audio dataare handled, the case that only video data is handled, the case thatonly audio data is handled, and the case that text data, MIDI, or thelike is handled.

In addition, according to the first embodiment of the present invention,as an example of an audio compressing and encoding system, theMPEG/Audio system was described. However, it should be noted that thepresent invention is not limited to such a system. For example, asanother example of a compressing and encoding system, ATRAC (AdaptiveTransform Acoustic Coding) system that has been used for mini disc maybe used.

In addition, according to the first embodiment of the present invention,an atom that contains management information for data contained in asuccessive record length and information such as a playback rate and aseek time that depend on the recording apparatus was named an MQTdescription atom. Fields of individual types of information were namedfirst chunk, next track ID, and so forth as was described above.However, the present invention is not limited to them. For example, theMQT description atom may be named an HITY atom or the like.

Second Embodiment

A second embodiment of the present invention is the same as the firstembodiment in that the movie data atom 101 and the movie atom 102 areprovided. However, according to the second embodiment, to flexiblyhandle the relation among pieces of data, an MQT description atom 113 isused as an extended version of the MQT description atom 103.

Next, the MQT description atom 113 according to the second embodimentwill be described. Since the structure of the digital recording andreproducing apparatus according to the second embodiment is the same asthose shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the MQTdescription atom.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the data structureof an IDDA.

FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing another example of the datastructure of the IDDA.

FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the data structureof a track property atom.

FIG. 15, FIG. 16, and FIG. 17 show coding lists corresponding to aprogramming language.

In FIG. 14 and FIG. 17, the MQT description atom 113 contains a trackproperty atom (hereinafter abbreviated as TPPA) 221, an IDDA 222, and anSTPA 223.

The TPPA 221 contains an NOE and a track property table (hereinafterabbreviated as TPT) 231. The TPT 231 is generated for each track. TheTPPA 221 is an atom that describes attribute information for a track.The TPPA 221 has an atom type “tkqt”. As with the first embodiment, theNOE is the number of TPTs. The NOE is assigned four bytes.

The TPT 231 contains a track ID, a flag, a media type, and an MQT type.

As with the first embodiment, the track ID is an identification codethat the TPPA 221 identifies the corresponding track. The track ID is atrack number. The track ID is assigned four bytes.

The flag describes information that identifies the state of the track.The flag is for example Flag 1 that represents whether the track can beused (enabled) or not (disabled). The flag is also Flag 2 thatrepresents whether the MQT description atom can be interpreted or not(QT.non). With the Flag 2, even if a file corresponds to so-called QT,not extended QT according to the present invention, when the MQTdescription atom is ignored, the media data atom can be reproducedcorresponding to the movie atom.

The media type describes information such as video (vide), audio (soun),and text (text) that represent the types of the track.

The MQT type describes information that represents the attribute of thetrack. The MQT type represents for example original data (orig),reserved area for after-receded data (afrv), chapter (chap), orbackground music (bgmc). Thus, it can be easily determined whether datahas been originally recorded data or after-recorded data. In addition,with chap, an index of still pictures can be created.

Next, with reference to FIG. 18, an example of the TPT 231 will bedescribed.

FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the TPT.

In FIG. 18, for track 1, the TPT describes Flag 1=enabled, Flag 2=QT,Media Type=vide and MQT Type=orig. Thus, track 1 is a valid video track.In other words, track 1 is originally recorded main video datarepresented by the so-called QT (not extended QT according to thepresent invention).

For track 2, the TPT describes Flag 1 enabled, Flag 2=QT, MediaType=soun, and MQT Type=orig. Thus, track 2 is a valid audio track. Inother words, track 2 is originally recorded main audio data representedby the so-called QT.

For track 3, the TPT describes Flag 1=disabled, Flag 2=non, MediaType=soun, and MQT Type=afrv. Thus, track 3 is an audio track that isinvalid by the so-called QT. In other words, track 3 is a reserved areathat can be after-recorded and represented by the extended QT accordingto the present invention.

For tack 4, the TPT describes Flag 1=disabled, Flag 2=non, MediaType=soun, and MQT Type 1=afrv. Thus, track 4 is a video track that isinvalid by the so-called QT. In other words, track 4 is still picturedata for a main video index that can be represented by the extended QTaccording to the present invention.

For track 5, the TPT describes Flag 1=disabled, Flag 2=non, MediaType=soun, and MQT Type=afrv. Thus, track 5 is a text track that isinvalid by the so-called QT. However, track 5 is text data for a mainvideo index that can be represented by the so-called QT.

For track 6, the TPT describes Flag 1=enabled, Flag 2=QT, MediaType=soun, and MQT Type=bgmc. Thus, track 6 is a valid audio track. Inother words, track 6 is a sub audio BGM that can be represented by theso-called QT and that has been after-recorded.

In such a manner, the TPT 231 can describe a QT movie file format or anapplication dependent file format along with attributes of theindividual tracks.

According to the present invention, since the TPPA 221 can totallymanage information contained in tracks, the media structure of theentire file can be managed by one atom without need to collectinformation from the individual tracks. In addition, since thedescription of the TPPA 221 is independent from the description of thephysical structure, when necessary, the selection for recording the TPPA221 on the record medium 40 can be independently performed.

The IDDA 222 is an atom of which the function of the IDDA 201 isextended. The IDDA 222 contains a group description atom (hereinafterabbreviated as GDCA) 232 and a track description atom (hereinafterabbreviated as TDCA) 233. The IDDA 222 has an atom type “ilds”.

The GDCA 232 contains an NOE and a group description table (hereinafterabbreviated as GDT) 241. Whenever the group pattern is changed, the GDT241 is generated. The GDCA 232 has an atom type “gpds”.

The GDT 241 contains group ID, parent ID, next group ID, and number ofrepeats.

The group ID is an identification code with which the IDDA 222identifies the corresponding group. The group ID is represented by anumber assigned to the group. The group ID is assigned two bytes.

The parent ID is an identification code that represents a higherhierarchical group to which the current group belongs. The parent ID isa number assigned to the higher hierarchical group. The parent ID isassigned two bytes. With the parent ID, the correlation of tracks can beflexibly represented. In other words, when the correlation of tracks ischanged, by changing the higher hierarchical group to which the currentgroup belongs, the correlation of new tracks can be represented.

The next group ID is an identification code that represents a groupsuccessively recorded after a particular group on the record medium 40.The next group ID also represents a connection of groups in a timeseries in the successive record length. According to the secondembodiment, the next group ID is represented by a group ID and assignedtwo bytes.

The number of repeats contained in the GDT 241 represents the number oftimes of which a combination of tracks for a designated group has beenrepeated and successively recorded on the record medium 40. The numberof repeats is assigned one byte.

The TDCA 233 contains a track ID, an NOE, and a track description table(hereinafter abbreviated as TDT) 242.

The TDT 242 is a table of which the function of the IDDT 211 accordingto the first embodiment is extended. The TDT 242 contains group ID,first chunk, next track ID, number of recorded chunks, number ofrepeats, duration, and recorded data size. In other words, the TDT 242also contains group ID as well as all fields of the IDDT 211 accordingto the first embodiment. Whenever the recorded pattern is changed, theTDT 242 is generated.

The group ID is an identification code that represents a group to whichthe current track belongs. According to the second embodiment, the groupID is represented by a number assigned to the group. The group ID isassigned two bytes.

Since the first chunk, the next track ID, the number of recorded chunks,the number of repeats, the duration, and the recorded data sizecontained in the TDT 242 are the same as those contained in the IDDT 211according to the first embodiment, their description will be omitted.

FIG. 15 shows the case that the group ID is described in the TDT 242.When each track belongs to the same group, as shown in FIG. 16, thegroup ID may be described in a field of the TDCA 233. FIGS. 15 and 16show coding lists corresponding to a programming language.

The STPA 202 according to the second embodiment is the same as thataccording to the first embodiment. The STPA 202 contains a seek time oftwo bytes and a playback rate (bps) of two bytes.

In the forgoing description, bytes assigned are represented with realpractical values. However, it should be noted that the present inventionis not limited to such values. Instead, bytes are assigned correspondingto values of individual fields.

In such a manner, the MQT description atom 113 contains information thatrepresents what chunks of what tracks are successively recorded as a seton the record medium 40 in what order and in what unit. In addition, theMQT description atom 113 also contains information that represents inwhat order groups having tracks that are arranged in the same sequenceare successively recorded as a set on the record medium 40 in what unit.In other words, according to the second embodiment of the presentinvention, management information for data contained in the successiverecord length and information that depends on a recording apparatus suchas a drive are collectively contained in the MQT description atom 113.In addition, information that represents the correlation of tracks iscontained in the MQT description atom 113. When a pattern such as thesequence of tracks in a group is changed, by adding the GDT 241, thechanged pattern can be flexibly handled. When real data recorded on therecord medium 40 is edited, by adding the GDT 241 and the TDT 242corresponding to the data structure of data that has been edited to theMQT description atom 113, the correlation of tracks can be flexiblychanged.

When the recording and reproducing apparatus reproduces a QuickTimemovie file, it references the MQT description atom 113, determinestracks to be synchronously reproduced, and reproduces data therefrom.

Next, with information contained in the MQT description atom 113, aprocess for interpreting a data structure of data successively recordedon the record medium 40 will be described with more practical examples.The process is performed by the digital recording and reproducingapparatus.

Fifth Example

FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram showing a group description table, atrack description table, and data successively recorded on a recordmedium according to a fifth example of the present invention. FIG. 19Ashows the group description table. FIG. 19B shows the track descriptiontable. FIG. 19C shows the data successively recorded on the recordmedium.

In FIG. 19B, a TDT 242 contains the following values for audio track 1.

Group ID=1

First chunk=1

Next track ID=2

Number of recorded chunks=2

Number of repeats=2

Duration=n

Maximum recorded data size=a

Minimum recorded data size=a

Average recorded data size=a

The TDT 242 contains the following values for video track 2.

Group ID=1

First chunk=1

Next track ID=0

Number of recorded chunks=1

Number of repeats=2

Duration=n

Maximum recorded data size=b

Minimum recorded data size=b

Average recorded data size=b

The TDT 242 contains the following values for audio track 3.

Group ID=2

First chunk=1

Next track ID=0

Number of recorded chunks=4

Number of repeats=1

Duration=2n

Maximum recorded data size=c

Minimum recorded data size=c

Average recorded data size=c

In FIG. 19A, a first table of a GDT 241 contains the following values.

Group ID=1

Parent ID=0

Next group ID=0

Number of repeats=2

A second table of the TDT 242 contains the following values.

Group ID=2

Parent ID=0

Next group ID=1

Number of repeats=2

When an MQT description atom 113 contains the forgoing values, thesystem controlling microcomputer 19 of the digital recording andreproducing apparatus determines the data structure of data successivelyrecorded on the record medium 40 in the following manner.

First, since the group ID of the audio track 1 is 1, the systemcontrolling microcomputer 19 determines that the audio track 1 belongsto a first group.

Next, since the first chunk o the audio track 1 is 1, the systemcontrolling microcomputer 19 determines that the beginning chunk of theaudio track 1 is chunk #1.

Next, since the next track ID of the audio track 1 is 2, the systemcontrolling microcomputer 19 determines that the audio track 1 isfollowed by video track #2 whose track number is 2.

Next, since the number of recorded chunks of the audio track 1 is 2, thesystem controlling microcomputer 19 determines that the audio track 1contains two successive chunks.

Next, since the number of repeats of the audio track 1 is 2, the systemcontrolling microcomputer 19 determines that the audio track 1 isrepeated two times in the same recorded state.

Next, since the duration of the audio track is n (where n is anypositive integer), the maximum recorded data size is a (where a is anypositive integer), the minimum recorded data size is a, the averagerecorded data size is a, the system controlling microcomputer 19determines that the time length of data of the audio track 1 is n andthat the data size is a as a fixed value.

Next, likewise, since the group ID of the video track 2 is 1, the systemcontrolling microcomputer 19 determines that the video track 2 belongsto the first group. In addition, for the video track 2, the systemcontrolling microcomputer 19 determines that the first chunk is chunk#1, that the video track 2 of the first group is not followed by anytrack, that the number of chunks is 1, that the same recorded state isrepeated two times, that the time length of data of the video track 2 isn, and that the data size is b as a fixed value.

Next, likewise, since the group ID of the audio track 3 is 2, the systemcontrolling microcomputer 19 determines that the audio track 3 belongsto a second group. In addition, for the audio track 3, the systemcontrolling microcomputer 19 determines that the first chunk is chunk#1, that the audio track 3 of the second group is not followed by anytrack, that the number of chunks is four, that the same recorded stateis repeated one time, that the time length of data of the audio track 3is 2n, and that the data size is c as a fixed value.

In such a manner, the system controlling microcomputer 19 determinesthat the first group successively recorded on the record medium 40 iscomposed of the audio track 1, the video track 2, the audio track 1, andthe video track 2 arranged as shown in FIG. 19C. In addition, the systemcontrolling microcomputer 19 determines that the second group iscomposed of one track of the audio track 3 as shown in FIG. 19C.

Next, the system controlling microcomputer 19 analyzes the relationamong groups corresponding to the GDT 241.

Firstly, since the group ID of the table #1 is 1, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 determines that the table #1 is information for thefirst group 1. Next, since the parent ID is 0, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 determines that a higher group to which the group 1belongs is higher group 0.

Next, since the next group ID of the table #1 is 0, the systemcontrolling microcomputer 19 determines that the group 1 is not followedby any group.

Next, since the number of repeats of the group 1 of the table #1 is 2,the system controlling microcomputer 19 determines that the group 1 isrepeated two times.

Next, since the group ID of the table #2 is 2, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 determines that the table #2 is information for thesecond group 2. Next, since the parent ID is 0, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 determines that a higher group to which the group 2belongs is the group 0. In other words, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 determines that the group 2 is the same group as thegroup 1 (the group 2 has a correlation with the group 1).

Next, since the next group ID of the group 2 of the table #2 is 1, thesystem controlling microcomputer 19 determines that the group 2 isfollowed by the group 1 having the same parent ID as the group 2.

Next, since the number of repeats=2 of the group 2 of the table #2 is 2,the system controlling microcomputer 19 determines that the group 2 isrepeated two times.

In such a manner, the system controlling microcomputer 19 determinesthat the data structure of data successively recorded on the recordmedium 40 is as shown in FIG. 19C.

Sixth Example

In FIG. 19C, the audio track 3, the audio track 1, the video track 2,the audio track 1, and the video track 2 can be treated as one block.Next, a GDT 241 and a TDT 242 that are used in such a case will bedescribed.

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram showing a group description table, atrack description table, and data successively recorded on a recordmedium according to a sixth example of the present invention. FIG. 20Ashows the group description table. FIG. 20B shows the track descriptiontable. FIG. 20C shows the data successively recorded on the recordmedium. Although the collecting method for a group shown in FIG. 20C isdifferent from that shown in FIG. 19C. However, the sequence of tracksshown in FIG. 20C is the same as that shown in FIG. 19C.

In FIG. 20B, the TDT 242 contains the following values for audio track1.

Group ID=1

First chunk=1

Next track ID=2

Number of recorded chunks=2

Number of repeats=2

Duration=n

Maximum recorded data size=a

Minimum recorded data size=a

Average recorded data size=a

The TDT 242 contains the following values for video track 2.

Group ID=1

First chunk=1

Next track ID=0

Number of recorded chunks=1

Number of repeats=2

Duration=n

Maximum recorded data size=b

Minimum recorded data size=b

Average recorded data size=b

The TDT 242 contains the following values for audio track 3.

Group ID=1

First chunk=1

Next track ID=1

Number of recorded chunks=4

Number of repeats=1

Duration=2n

Maximum recorded data size=c

Minimum recorded data size=c

Average recorded data size=c

In FIG. 20A, the GDT 241 contains the following values.

Group ID=1

Parent ID=0

Next group ID=0

Number of repeats=2

Although the sequence of tracks is the same, roles of record areas canbe changed depending on how a group is designated. In particular, when agroup is changed, roles for record areas can be designated so that anaudio track that belongs to one group for original audio data and anaudio track that belongs to another group for a reserved area to whichdata is after-recorded.

Seventh Example

FIG. 21 shows a group description table, a track description table, anddata successively recorded on a record medium according to a seventhexample of the present invention. FIG. 21A shows the group descriptiontable. FIG. 21B shows the track description table. FIG. 21C shows thedata successively recorded on the record medium.

In FIG. 21B, a TDT 242 contains the following values for audio track 1.

Group ID=1

First chunk=1

Next track ID=2

Number of recorded chunks=2

Number of repeats=2

Duration=n

Maximum recorded data size=a

Minimum recorded data size=a

Average recorded data size=a

The TDT 242 contains the following values for video track 2.

Group ID=1

First chunk=1

Next track ID=0

Number of recorded chunks=1

Number of repeats=2

Duration=n

Maximum recorded data size=b

Minimum recorded data size=b

Average recorded data size=b

The TDT 242 contains the following values for audio track 3.

Group ID=2

First chunk=1

Next track ID=0

Number of recorded chunks=4

Number of repeats=1

Duration=n

Maximum recorded data size=c

Minimum recorded data size=c

Average recorded data size=c

The TDT 242 contains the following values for audio track 4.

Group ID=3

First chunk=1

Next track ID=0

Number of recorded chunks=4

Number of repeats=1

Duration=4n

Maximum recorded data size=d (where d is any positive integer)

Minimum recorded data size=d

Average recorded data size d

In FIG. 21A, a first table of a GDT 241 contains the following values.

Group ID=1

Parent ID=0

Next group ID=3

Number of repeats=2

The second table of the GDT 241 contains the following values.

Group ID=2

Parent ID=0

Next group ID=1

Number of repeats=1

The third table of the GDT 241 contains the following values.

Group ID=3

Parent ID=0

Next group ID=0

Number of repeats=1

When the MQT description atom 113 contains the forgoing values, likewith the example 5, the system controlling microcomputer 19 of thedigital recording and reproducing apparatus determines the datastructure of data successively recorded on the record medium 40.

In other words, since the group ID of the audio track 1 is 1, the systemcontrolling microcomputer 19 determines that the audio track 1 belongsto the first group 1. Next, for the audio track 1, the systemcontrolling microcomputer 19 determines that the first chunk is chunk #1and that the audio track 1 of the group 1 is followed by the audio track2 of the group 1. Next, the system controlling microcomputer 19determines that there are two chunks for the audio track 1 and that thesame recorded state is repeated two times. Next, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 determines that the time length of data of the audiotrack 1 is n and that the data size is a as a fixed value.

In addition, since the group ID of the video track 2 is 1, the systemcontrolling microcomputer 19 determines that the video track 2 belongsto the first group 1. For the video track 2, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 determines that the first chunk is chunk #1 and thatthe video track 2 of the group 1 is not followed by any track. Inaddition, for the video track 2, the system controlling microcomputer 19determines that the number of chunks is one and that the same recordedstate is repeated two times. In addition, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 determines that the time length of data of the videotrack 2 is n and that the data size is b as a fixed value.

Next, since the group ID of the audio track 3 is 2, the systemcontrolling microcomputer 19 determines that the audio track 3 belongsto the second group 2. For the audio track 3, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 determines that the first chunk is chunk #1 and thatthe audio track 3 of the group 2 is not followed by any track. Inaddition, for the audio track 3, the system controlling microcomputer 19determines that the number of chunks is four and that the same recordedstate is repeated one time. In addition, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 determines that the time length of data of the audiotack 3 is 4n and that the data size is c as a fixed value.

In addition, since the group ID of the audio track 4 is 3, the systemcontrolling microcomputer 19 determines that the audio track 4 belongsto the third group 3. In addition, for the audio track 4, the systemcontrolling microcomputer 19 determines that the first chunk is thechunk #1 and that the audio track 4 of the group 3 is not followed byany track. In addition, the system controlling microcomputer 19determines that the number of chunks of the audio track 4 is four andthat the same recorded state is repeated once time. In addition, thesystem controlling microcomputer 19 determines that the time length ofdata of the audio track 4 is 4n and that the data size is d as a fixedvalue.

In such a manner, the system controlling microcomputer 19 determinesthat the first group 1 successively recorded on the record medium 40 iscomposed of the audio track 1, the video track 2, the audio track 1, andthe video track 2 arranged as shown in FIG. 21C. In addition, the systemcontrolling microcomputer 19 determines that the second group 2 iscomposed of one track of the audio track 3 as shown in FIG. 21C. Inaddition, the system controlling microcomputer 19 determines that thethird group 3 is composed of one track of the audio track 4 as shown inFIG. 21C.

Next, the system controlling microcomputer 19 analyzes the relationamong groups corresponding to the GDT 241.

Firstly, since the group ID of the table #1 is 1, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 determines that the table #1 is information for thefirst group 1. Next, since the parent ID is 0, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 determines that a higher group to which the group 1belongs is the group 0.

Next, since the next group ID of the group 1 of the table #1 is 3, thesystem controlling microcomputer 19 determines that the group 1 isfollowed by the third group 3.

Next, since the number of repeats of the group 1 of the table #1 is 2,the system controlling microcomputer 19 determines that the group 1 isrepeated two times.

Next, since the group ID of the table #2 is 2, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 determines that the table #2 is information for thesecond group 2. Next, since the parent ID is 0, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 determines that a higher group to which the group 2belongs is the group 0. In other words, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 determines that the group 2 is the same group as thegroup 1 (the group has a correlation with the group 1).

Next, since the next group ID of the group 2 of the table #2 is 1, thesystem controlling microcomputer 19 determines that the group 2 isfollowed by the group 1 that has the same parent ID as the group 2.

Next, since the number of repeats of the group 2 of the table #2 is 2,the system controlling microcomputer 19 determines that the group 2 isrepeated one time.

Next, since the group ID of the table #3 is 3, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 determines that the table #3 is information for thethird group 3. Next, since the parent ID is 0, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 determines that a higher group to which the group 3belongs is the group 0. As a result, the group 1 is the same group asthe group 3 that has a correlation therewith.

Next, since the next group ID of the group 3 of the table #3 is 0, thesystem controlling microcomputer 19 determines that the group 3 is notfollowed by any group.

Next, since the number of repeats of the group 3 of the table #3 is 1,the system controlling microcomputer 19 determines that the group 3 isrepeated one time.

In such a manner, the system controlling microcomputer 19 determinesthat the data structure of data successively recorded on the recordmedium 40 is as shown in FIG. 21C.

According to the first embodiment, the case that each track is recordedat the same interval can be easily described. However, it is difficultto deal with the case that each track is not recorded at the sameinterval as with the audio track 3 and the audio track 4 shown in FIG.21C. On the other hand, according to the second embodiment, the casethat each track is recorded at different intervals unlike with the audiotrack 3 and the audio track 4 can be easily dealt with the GDCA 232 (GDT242) and the TDCA 233 (TDT 242) as shown in FIGS. 21A and 21C.

Next, the case that the data structure of a successive record length andthe correlation among tracks are changed while data is being recorded orthe case that they are edited and changed will be exemplified.

Eighth Example

An eighth example deals with the case that the data structure shown inFIG. 19C is changed to a data structure shown in FIG. 22C. In otherwords, another track 4 is recorded as a group 3 at the position of group2. In addition, a combination of the first group 1 and the second group2 is changed to a combination of the group 1 and the third group 3.

For example, the case that original data that has been recorded on theaudio track 1 and the audio track 3 is reproduced along with the videotrack 2 may be changed to the case that data that has beenafter-recorded on the audio track 4 is reproduced along with the videotrack 2. For example, data of some language is recorded on the audiotrack 1 and data of another language is recorded on the audio track 3.

In such a case, a GDT 241 and a TDT 242 shown in FIG. 22A and FIG. 22Bare used, respectively.

As is clear from the comparison of FIG. 19B and FIG. 22B″, when the datastructure is changed, a table corresponding to the audio track 4 isadded to the TDT 242. In addition, when the combination is changed, thetable #3 and the table #4 are added to the GDT 241.

In FIG. 22B″, the TDT 242 contains the following values for the audiotrack 4.

Group ID=3

First chunk=1

Next track ID=0

Number of recorded chunks=4

Number of repeats=1

Duration=4n

Maximum recorded data size=d

Minimum recorded data size=d

Average recorded data size=d

In FIG. 22A″, the third table of the GDT 241 contains the followingvalues.

Group ID=1

Parent ID=1

Next group ID=0

Number of repeats=2

The fourth table of the GDT 241 contains the following values.

Group ID=3

Parent ID=1

Next group ID=1

Number of repeats=2

With these values, since the group ID of the table #3 is 1, the systemcontrolling microcomputer 19 determines that the table #3 is informationfor the group 1. In addition, since the parent ID is 1, the systemcontrolling microcomputer 19 determines a higher group to which thegroup 1 belongs is 1. In other words, a higher group to which the group1 belongs is changed from the group 0 to the group 1.

Next, since the next group ID of the group 1 of the table #3 is 0, thesystem controlling microcomputer 19 determines that the group 1 is notfollowed by any group.

Next, since the number of repeats of the group 1 of the table #3 is 2,the system controlling microcomputer 19 determines that the group 1 isrepeated two times.

On the other hand, since the group ID of the table #4 is 3, the systemcontrolling microcomputer 19 determines that the table #4 is informationfor the group 3. In addition, since the parent ID is 1, the systemcontrolling microcomputer 19 determines that a higher group to which thegroup 3 belongs is group 1. In other words, the system controllingmicrocomputer 19 determines that the group belongs to the same group asthe group 1 and has a correlation with the group 1.

Next, since the next group ID of the group 3 of the table #4 is 1, thesystem controlling microcomputer 19 determines that the group 3 isfollowed by the group 1.

Next, since the number of repeats of the group 3 of the table #4 is 2,the system controlling microcomputer 19 determines that the group 3 isrepeated two times.

The system controlling microcomputer 19 determines that the datastructure of data successively recorded on the record medium 40 has beenchanged from the data structure shown in FIG. 1C to the data structureshown in FIG. 22C″.

The data structure shown in FIG. 7B can be described in the manneraccording to the first embodiment without need to use a group ID.Alternatively, with a group ID, a data structure can be described asfollows.

Ninth Example

Example 9 shows the case that the data structure shown in FIG. 7B isdescribed using a group ID.

FIG. 23 shows a group description table, track description tables, anddata successively recorded on a record medium according to the ninthexample of the present invention. FIG. 23A shows the group descriptiontable. FIG. 23B shows the track description table for an audio track.FIG. 23C shows the track description table for a video track. FIG. 23Dshows data successively recorded on the record medium (namely, datashown in FIG. 7B).

When a data structure is described as shown in FIG. 23D (FIG. 7B) usinga group ID, a TDT 242 contains the following values for the audio trackas shown in FIG. 23B.

Group ID=1

First chunk=1

Next track ID=2

Number of recorded chunks=2

Number of repeats=2

Duration=n

Maximum recorded data size=a

Minimum recorded data size=a

Average recorded data size=a

As shown in FIG. 23C, the TDT 242 contains the following values for thevideo track.

Group ID=1

First chunk=1

Next track ID=0

Number of recorded chunks=1

Number of repeats=2

Duration=n

Maximum recorded data size=b

Minimum recorded data size=b

Average recorded data size=b

In FIG. 23A, a GDT 241 contains the following values.

Group ID=1

Parent ID=0

Next group ID=0

Number of repeats=1

Tenth Example

On the other hand, when the data structure is changed to the datastructure shown in FIG. 10B″ and to the data structure shown in FIG.10C″, tables are described as shown in FIG. 24 and FIG. 25.

FIG. 24 and FIG. 25 show group description tables, track descriptiontables, and data successively recorded on a record medium according tothe tenth example of the present invention. FIG. 24A′ and FIG. 25A″ showthe group description tables. FIG. 24B′ and FIG. 25B″ show the trackdescription tables for an audio track. FIG. 24C and FIG. 25C″ show thetrack description tables for a video track. FIG. 24D′ and FIG. 25D″ showthe data successively recorded on the record medium. The data shown inFIG. 24D″ is the same as that shown in FIG. 10B″. The data shown in FIG.25D″ is the same as that shown in FIG. 10C″.

When the data shown in FIG. 10A″ (FIG. 23D) is changed to that shown inFIG. 10B″ (FIG. 24D′), as is clear from the comparison of FIG. 23 andFIG. 24, the chunk size is changed from two chunks to one chunk. A table#2 is added to the TDT 242 for the audio track. The table #2 added tothe TDT 242 contains the following values.

Group ID=1

First chunk=k

Next track ID=2

Number of recorded chunks=1

Number of repeats=2

Duration=n

Maximum recorded data size=a

Minimum recorded data size=a

Average recorded data size=a

When the data shown in FIG. 10B″ (FIG. 24D′) is changed to that shown inFIG. 10C″ (FIG. 25D″), as is clear from the comparison of FIG. 24 andFIG. 25, the duration and the record of size of each track are changed.Correspondingly, a table for the second group 2 is added to the GDT 241.In addition, tables are added to the TDTs 242 for the audio track andvideo track. The table added to the GDT 241 contains the followingvalues.

Group ID=2

Parent ID=1

Next group ID=0

Number of repeats=1

The table #3 added to the TDT 242 for the audio track contains thefollowing values.

Group ID=2

First chunk=m

Next track ID=0

Number of recorded chunks=2

Number of repeats=1

Duration=2n

Maximum recorded data size=2a

Minimum recorded data size=2a

Average recorded data size=2a

The table #2 added to the TDT 242 for the video track contains thefollowing values.

Group ID=2

First chunk=j

Next track ID=1

Number of recorded chunks=2

Number of repeats=1

Duration=2n

Maximum recorded data size=2b

Minimum recorded data size=2b

Average recorded data size=2b

Each example of the first embodiment can be described using a group ID.

According to the present invention, the relation among of data piecesrecorded on a record medium can be easily and quickly obtained. Thus, arecord unit of data recorded on a record medium can be changed while thedata is being recorded. In addition, data can be edited so that it canbe successively reproduced after it is recorded.

1-13. (canceled)
 14. A recoding apparatus for recording data to arewritable record medium, comprising: encoding means for encoding thedata corresponding to a predetermined compressing and encoding system;converting means for converting a data structure of encoded data that isoutput from the encoding means into a file structure that a computersoftware program that synchronously reproduces a moving picture and soforth can handle without need to use a special hardware device; andrecording means for recording data having the file structure to therecord medium, wherein the file structure has a first data unit, asecond data unit, and a data portion, the second data unit being a setof a plurality of first data units, the data portion describingmanagement information, wherein the plurality of second data units iscorrelated with a successive record length of the record medium, andwherein the data portion contains first hierarchical information andsecond hierarchical information, the second data unit recorded in thesuccessive record length being divided into a plurality of groups in arepeated pattern corresponding to the type of the first data unit, thefirst hierarchical information describing the sequence of the pluralityof first data units in one group, the second hierarchy informationdescribing the sequence of the plurality of groups.
 15. The recordingapparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein the first hierarchicalinformation contains information representing to which of the pluralityof groups the first data unit belongs, information representing the datatype of the first data unit, information representing the recordsequence of the plurality of first data units, information representingthe number of successive first data units for each data type,information representing the number of times of which the successivefirst data units are repeated for each data type, and informationidentifying the beginning first data unit, and wherein the secondhierarchical information contains information representing the types ofthe groups, information representing which of the plurality of groups issynchronized with the computer software program, informationrepresenting the record sequence of the plurality of groups, andinformation representing the number of successive groups.
 16. Therecoding apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein the data portionfurther contains the data type of the first data unit and a dataattribute of the first data unit.
 17. A computer readable record mediumon which a plurality of pieces of data is recorded as a first data unit,a second data unit, and a data portion, the second data unit being a setof a plurality of first data units, the data portion describingmanagement information for managing the plurality of pieces of data,wherein the plurality of second data units is correlatively recorded toa successive record length of the record medium, and wherein the dataportion contains first hierarchical information and second hierarchicalinformation, the second data unit recorded in the successive recordlength being divided into a plurality of groups in a repeated patterncorresponding to the type of the first data unit, the first hierarchicalinformation describing the sequence of the plurality of first data unitsin one group, the second hierarchy information describing the sequenceof the plurality of groups.
 18. The computer readable record medium asset forth in claim 17, wherein the first hierarchical informationcontains information representing to which of the plurality of groupsthe first data unit belongs, information representing the data type ofthe first data unit, information representing the record sequence of theplurality of first data units, information representing the number ofsuccessive first data units for each data type, information representingthe number of times of which the successive first data units arerepeated for each data type, and information identifying the beginningfirst data unit, and wherein the second hierarchical informationcontains information representing the types of the groups, informationrepresenting which of the plurality of groups is-synchronized with thecomputer software program, information representing the record sequenceof the plurality of groups, and information representing the number ofsuccessive groups.